Murder suspect refuses to attend trial

ON TRIAL: If convicted, Micheal Garing might face the death penalty or life in jail.

For the second day in a row, murder suspect Micheal Garing refused to budge from the holding area inside the Supreme Court building to attend his own trial.

He did the same thing on Wednesday afternoon after the lunch break.

His lawyer Ramesh Tiwary told the court on Thursday that Micheal, 25, also refused to see or speak to him.

He asked for his client to be remanded in the prison's psychiatric observation ward to assess if he is fit to plead and give instructions on how best to proceed with the case.

Mr Tiwary told the court on Wednesday that Micheal refused to return to the dock as he may not be feeling well.

However, he did not give a reason for his client's actions on Thursday.

Justice Choo Han Teck has adjourned the case to Tuesday.

Micheal, and Tony Imba, 34, both Sarawakians, are on trial for allegedly murdering Indian national Shanmuganathan Dillidurai, 41, on May 30, 2010, between 12.15am and 7.35am, at an open field near Kallang Road.

They are also accused of robbing and assaulting Mr Ang Jun Heng, 22, Mr Sandeep Singh, 27, and Mr Egan Karuppaiah, 42, at around the same time.

Their alleged accomplice, Hairee Landak, 23, who was jailed for 33 years and given 24 strokes of the cane in January, was supposed to take the stand on Thursday.

He had pleaded guilty to three counts of armed robbery with hurt.

EVIDENCE

Mr Tiwary said that Micheal needed to be present in court as everything hinges on the evidence that Hairee would give.

The lawyer also said on Wednesday: "I need him to be here in mind and body."

If convicted, Micheal and Tony will face the death penalty or life in jail.